Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-02-02
MRS. PAGE AND EX.CLERK WEST.
Testimony rs to Their Relations in
the Criminal Court To-day.
THE CASE FOR THE GOVERNMENT CLosKp-THE DOC
TORS TESTIMONY AS TO MRS. PAGES INJURIES

the Criminal Court To-day.
THE CASE FOR THE GOVERNMENT CLosEp-THE DOC
TORS TESTIMONY AS TO MRS. PAGES INJURIES.
Yesterday in the Criminal Court, Judge Mac
Arthur the trial of John L. West colored indicted
for house breaking In the night and assault with
intent to commit rape On the person Of Mrs.
Mary 1. Page, on the goth OF November last, was
continued after TIE STARS report closed. Mrs.
Page on croSs-eXamination testified that she de-
stroyed nearly all the letters she received from
West-some Immediately after being received and
read and others after being kept some little time.
West, when bringing work to her desk, would
sometimes hand her note, and she had given him
notes occasionally under the same circumstances.
She did not consider the letters of sufficient value
to keep forever and did not want them, so they
were destroyed. West had taken her hand and
kissed 1t several times when bouquets were pre-
sented to her. She had never walked on the street
with him. He saw her. one day as she was going
home, came across the street, and presented her
with some fruit. He had been very kind TO her
mother on one occasion when she was sick.
HER MOTIFS TO WEST
She Identified the following note as one written
by her:
"MR. WEST: Mother desires me to express her
sincere thanks for your kindness. 1t is pleasant
surprise. will answer your note more fully
another time. With kind regards, your friend,
Wednesday, June 3, 1885,"
Also the following: "DEC. %. 1SS3-MR. WEST:
Leu me thank you for your kindness in my behalf
curing my absence from Office. You were certainly
very thoughtful; and appreciate it, though una
Bile to acknowledge it at the time l have been
seriously sick, and am so far from well now that
fear a relapse should l 60 out too soon. My
physician thinks l ought not to return toof1ce
until next week, but ! shall try to do better than
that, for feel badly that have been absent so
Your friend, III, l. PAGE"
Also this note: II wish you to keep the book If
you care TO; have another"
:, MIS-. rage SAID that the book was entitled "The
Faith or our Fathers by Cardinal Gibbons.
she Identified this one also:
IL am sorry you thought that explanation neceS-
SalS. No Thought ever entered my mind OF your
having offered the souvenir in any spirit save that
OF gentlemanly Kindness and Thought. could
not accept theil. tired to express my apprecla-
ten OF your>kind thOughtfulneSs l am sorry l
tailed. am distressed that you brought Inc The
presents so long as IL is not in my power to accept
them but could not from any gentleman under
the circumstances. Please don't misunderstood
Inc again."
HER RELIGIOUS FAITH.
Mrs. Page said she did not remember exactly at
what time this note was written, but thought it
was at the Office, and declining some presents that
had been offered her by the defendant She stated
that she had received a valentine and Easter card
from West.
Juror Skelly asked of the witness stDo you be-
long to the Catholic church?-
II dc" answer Mrs Page.
"Do you attend to your duties regularity"
II do" she replied.
"Let me inquire" said Mr.. Cook, sff you ever ask
forgiveness"
. Here some kissing was heard, but it quickly sub
II do not think we will go into that subject"
said the court.
The witness desired to answer the question but
tne court would not permit it, Witness was cross
examined at length as to the fastenings OF the
house. After finding that the back door had been
opened, witness and her children went through
every room in the house but found nothing, and
she fastened everything up as well as she could.
Inc Judge having warned the jury to converse
WIN no one concerning the trial, the court ad-
Journed until to-day.
THE PROCEEDINGS TO-DAY.
This morning, before proceeding with the trial,
Mr. Cahll desired to call attention to the report in
the Post that during the croSs-examnation some
Misses were given. He desired to state that Kisses
would not deter them from doing their duty.
The court said he heard no Misses and had he
observed such conduct he would have had the par
ties arrested.
Mr. CahIl remarked that he heard one hiss
Ihe court said that if the parties could be found
transcribed his duty and should not be allowed
The prlvliegeSOf the room.
MRS. PAGE WAS RECALLED
thlS morning, and on redirect examination testi-
ned that the house was fastened when she retired.
After the occurrence found nothing missing.
HER RELATIONS WITH WEST.
Witness said there were seven persons in the
room with her at the land Office, three other ladies
and two gentlemen. Witness walked short dis
lance with West three times, and once he was in
her parlor, when ne brought some letters Wit
ness Identified the book she gave him. 1.-THE Faith
OF our Fathers by Archbishop Gibbons, and a
Catholic medal He had cOnverSed with her as to
the Catholic religion and asked for books and
pamphlets, and particularly for the circular
letters read in the churches. She gave him the
book two years ago last spring she had sent the
medal TO priest and asked that he bless It, and
then n gave 1t to the defendant. She Identified
another letter as also pronissory note for 500,
dated september 18th, 1866, She received from
West for money loaned him. The note 81 can and
VIII get 1t from you without any trouble but
would rather get it from Mayse or your note" &c,
Without GATE, was read to the jury. Also, the
notes saying, 81 wish you to keep the book and
II am sorry you thought that explanation neceS-
sary," were read. When West returned from a
trip west he told her that he had dared to think OF
her While away, and had brought her some sOuve-
mrs. witness declined in this note to receive
them. She understood that he had a pocket-book
Another note was read declining present which,
she understood, was diamond ring for birth.
day present. The note OF December god. 1885. de-
Ginning TO receive Christmas present, was also
read.
VESTS LETTER FROM NEW YORK.
The defendants exhibits (notes) were read and
explained. The letter dated New York, Nov 81.
1885,, written by West, read. 1t is as follows:
MADAM: Before this reaches you I shall have
voluntarily returned to w. and surrendered myself
10 the authorities. While do not expect you or
others to believe my statement or ask you to in
ter1ere in the execution OF the law yet do SOL
EMMY avow that If guilty OF what is charged
unconsclousness and without premeditat1on
When full consciousness reached me last Tuesday
l was beyond the jurisdiction OF the q. S.
and could easily have placed the ocean between
me ana W. had 1 SO desired. But knowing,
as God knows, am innocent of any
wrong committed through knowledge thereof or
OF the law rather than by known act leave the
country and appear fugitive from justice.